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Closing the Liberace museum?? I went to it once; a setting and building too small and ordinary for the extravagance of its honoree, but still enjoyable, and a decent look into a unique cultural phenomenon.

Took a quick look-up on B&N--- 16 different Liberace CDs, DVDs, and multi-disc collections still in print. In theory, at least; I find they list many things which they are not able to fulfill if I actually order them.

Still, it's a respectable offering, after all this time.

I can't say I personally remember any of his performances, except for a YouTube clip of him performing with Phyllis Diller--- she on harpsichord. She is (if I remember right) a Curtis graduate... maybe I have the school wrong, but she is a more serious musician than most know.

As for that performance, well... pure ham, I'm afraid. But I guess it worked for the B&W TV of the era. You have to give it some punch to put it across, even some Punch and Judy.

Played the cocktail party for a wedding last night. A small group, maybe twenty people or so. They were nice, but spent the entire time with a commando photographer who shouted orders at them about posing. I guess that photographers have to take charge to get the shots they want, but this was a little extreme.

The result was less like an elegant cocktail party and more like playing for a military drill.

But what could I do? The bride had hired the photographer, so it wasn't my job to tell him to chill out. Not a great situation, but I can deal with an hour of just about anything.

The wedding party for tonight balked at my price (I have a two hour minimum, even if I only play for twenty minutes) and decided to go with a "friend" who plays a little piano. Fine. These people were difficult right from the beginning, so aside from the paycheck, I'm not really missing much.

So wish me well, my friends—I have a Saturday night OFF!

Robin Meloy Goldsbywww.goldsby.deAuthor of PIANO GIRL: A MemoirRHYTHM: A Novel RMG is a Steinway Artist

Ooh! If you are stuck for ideas, you can always do what our family does on Saturday nights: Enter into spirited debate and negotiations regarding what DVD to rent (it can be hard to find the perfect action movie/post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller/romantic comedy/Spongebob epic combination to please all four of us), change into jammies, and crowd into the family room to watch the movie, with the highlight being the ice cream break halfway through. We're such a wild and crazy group.

Ha! Jeff I haven't thought of that Special Edition CD for months. I certainly should have sent her one, along with a personal letter of recommendation from our favorite bride Frau von Weasel.

My CDs are the default music in the party salons. I should give the banquet director a Special Edition copy for occasions like this.

Good idea, Monica! I laughed out loud at your description of trying to find a film that everyone likes. What I ended up doing was working on a story about Mister Rogers and his wife Joanne. She had quite the career as a concert pianist. What an inspiring woman!

Playing for lunch today. I will no doubt run into last night's bride as she exits the Schloss. Hopefully I'll cop some flowers from last night's shindig. It's one of the benefits of playing on Sunday---I get the Saturday night flowers before they hit the dumpster.

Robin Meloy Goldsbywww.goldsby.deAuthor of PIANO GIRL: A MemoirRHYTHM: A Novel RMG is a Steinway Artist

It has been a great weekend. Not only did I have last night off, but the lunch crowd at ye olde castle was polite and friendly and right now I sitting here listen to pianist Rob Schneiderman play the heck out of my grand piano. Holy cow, can this guy play. Beautiful.

Robin Meloy Goldsbywww.goldsby.deAuthor of PIANO GIRL: A MemoirRHYTHM: A Novel RMG is a Steinway Artist

Maybe they spent the whole wedding budget on the ring. That bride sounds like she might be the type. But I can't help recalling Audrey Hepburn's observation to George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany's--- well, two things: "Oh thank you anyway," she said, declining a diamond ring, "but I've always felt that diamonds looked vulgar on anyone under the age of fifty--- don't you agree?" George Peppard said that he did agree. The audience did not believe a word.

The other great quote that may fit this situation: "Certain shades of limelight can ruin a girl's complexion."

I think they would have remembered the wedding more favorably if they had had your music to set the tone. Later on, the groom may remember not having it.

-Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dance of the Maya and please have the guitar playerplay John Mcglaughlin's solo from the live performance Nov. 16, 1972 atChrysler Arena. My wife and I were at that show and particularly liked hisuse of polyrhythmics. If you find it too difficult you can leave out thefeedback. Your choice.

-John Coltrane's duets with Pharaoh Sanders. I understand that their use ofatonality is not everyone's cup of tea, but my guests are usually fond of|high register tenor saxes.

-We thought a little Stravinsky would be nice. We particularly like the|Rite of Spring. If you want to use the sheet music it's OK. My husbandlikes it about 1/4 note = 93 beats per minute.

-Then for the candle lighting ceremony, please learn Frank Zappa's "TheGreat Wazoo". If you want to play it in the originally B flat, that wouldbe OK. And yes, cousin Jeannie does want to sing the baritone sax solo.Please don't say no, it would hurt her feelings so.

-Finally we have built our own musical instruments (It's kind of a hobbywith us) and we would appreciate if you would use our instruments. None ofthem are based upon a 12 tone scale or on common harmonics, but our 5 yearold son tells us it's not really that hard to transpose once you understandthe physics.

We would be happy to pay each member an extra $25 for any inconvenience.Thank you and don't be late!Mr. and Mrs. Snovly

Hey everyone, check out this short film, made by Bill Block and George Petit. It's called "The Drummer" and it's WONDERFUL. Yes, it's about a wedding band. It has been been wining awards here and there.

hmm.. i was sent a check for 25 for a recent funeral.. i don't know if it is payment or a tip. I'm thinking i shouldn't cash it. I hate it when that happens. usually the parish takes care to ensure that the proper fee is paid.

Hey everyone, check out this short film, made by Bill Block and George Petit. It's called "The Drummer" and it's WONDERFUL. Yes, it's about a wedding band. It has been been wining awards here and there.

Apple! Wash your mouth out with soap, young lady. We don't tolerate that kind of language on this forum.

These people are saying, "Thank you." It is not only bad manners, but also highly unseemly to argue; it is like mud-wrestling with someone for the lunch check. Besides, do you think they want to have you on their check register every time they balance the books from now on?

You could send them a little note, thanking them for their thoughtfulness as they are thanking you for yours.

Look for a young musician who could really use twenty-five bucks. Find some pretext to see to it that they get it. Think of the generosity of these gracious people, and send them your blessings. No one need ever know.

Apple, I knew that's what you were worried about . . . that it was a lowball payment instead of a tip. Glad it worked out. Write the thank you note, and then go and buy yourself a snappy accessory for the next gig.

Last wedding of the season coming up on Saturday. I'll be playing for the entire dinner, which means four or five hours. These people have been very classy so far—no requests, no hysterical phone calls from the bride, the bride's mother, or the event planner. Looks as if everything will go smoothly.

Yeah, right.

Tim, glad you liked that short film. The drummer is an old friend of my husband's. I loved the singer and the older dancers! And i thought the dance sequence at the end somehow captured that "magic" thing that happens at some weddings. I've had it happen to me a handful of times. It keeps me going back for more.

In other news, the new book is coming along. I'm almost at the finish line.

Robin Meloy Goldsbywww.goldsby.deAuthor of PIANO GIRL: A MemoirRHYTHM: A Novel RMG is a Steinway Artist

Asparagus, Garlic, Almonds, and more: there are some things I miss about living in California. OT, but many of you might not know that the state grows roughly 25 per cent of the WORLD'S veggies. It was a huge shock to me to move away and find lettuce priced by the pound, rather than just per head.